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Childs Bank Marine Protected Area
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Childs Bank Marine Protected Area
The Childs Bank Marine Protected Area is an offshore conservation region in the exclusive economic zone of South Africa. It protects a unique, flat-topped ocean bank, considered to be a probable carbonate mound., and its sensitive habitats, including cold-water corals. It is a critical area for the recovery of nursery grounds for juvenile fish and supports the eco-certification of the South African hake fishery.
Childs Bank is named for Captain Childs, who led the research team that discovered this flat-topped, steep-sided seabed feature in the 1970s. Much of the coral on the bank has been damaged by trawling, but some pristine coral gardens remain on the steepest slopes. The area was proposed for protection in 2004, but its size was reduced to avoid mining areas.
A marine protected area is defined by the IUCN as "A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values".
The Childs Bank MPA provides critical protection for deep-sea habitats at depths between 180 and 450 m. It allows for the recovery of important nursery areas for juvenile fish and helps maintain the eco-certification of the South African hake fishery by protecting these vital habitats.
The Childs Bank MPA is off the coast of the Northern Cape in the 180 m to 450 m depth range, about 70 nautical miles west of Hondeklipbaai. The MPA protects the water column, seabed and subsoil inside its boundaries. The area of ocean protected is 1,335 km2. The entire Childs Bank Marine Protected Area is zoned as a single Controlled Zone.
The MPA boundaries are:
The marine protected areas of South Africa are the responsibility of the national government, which has management agreements with a variety of MPA management authorities. These authorities manage the MPAs with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The regulations for the MPA were established under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003. Scientific research within the protected area is not permitted unless licensed.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for issuing permits, quotas and law enforcement.
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Childs Bank Marine Protected Area
The Childs Bank Marine Protected Area is an offshore conservation region in the exclusive economic zone of South Africa. It protects a unique, flat-topped ocean bank, considered to be a probable carbonate mound., and its sensitive habitats, including cold-water corals. It is a critical area for the recovery of nursery grounds for juvenile fish and supports the eco-certification of the South African hake fishery.
Childs Bank is named for Captain Childs, who led the research team that discovered this flat-topped, steep-sided seabed feature in the 1970s. Much of the coral on the bank has been damaged by trawling, but some pristine coral gardens remain on the steepest slopes. The area was proposed for protection in 2004, but its size was reduced to avoid mining areas.
A marine protected area is defined by the IUCN as "A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values".
The Childs Bank MPA provides critical protection for deep-sea habitats at depths between 180 and 450 m. It allows for the recovery of important nursery areas for juvenile fish and helps maintain the eco-certification of the South African hake fishery by protecting these vital habitats.
The Childs Bank MPA is off the coast of the Northern Cape in the 180 m to 450 m depth range, about 70 nautical miles west of Hondeklipbaai. The MPA protects the water column, seabed and subsoil inside its boundaries. The area of ocean protected is 1,335 km2. The entire Childs Bank Marine Protected Area is zoned as a single Controlled Zone.
The MPA boundaries are:
The marine protected areas of South Africa are the responsibility of the national government, which has management agreements with a variety of MPA management authorities. These authorities manage the MPAs with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The regulations for the MPA were established under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003. Scientific research within the protected area is not permitted unless licensed.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for issuing permits, quotas and law enforcement.